Booking and Performance Promotion

Monthly Archives: June 2015

It been a very busy spring for LSA! May brought Mark Dvorak to the Lexington KY area with a co-bill with Ma Crow and the Lady Slippers at Natasha’s, a senior concert for the wonderful folks at Sayre Village, a Family program at the Tates Creek Library and a guitar workshop at The Leeds Center for the Arts in Winchester, KY. This is all part of his Community Partnership programs.

I have enjoyed attending several concerts in the Chicago area… Acoustic duo Hungrytown at the Windy City House Concerts, a wonderful house concert series in Chicago. Dan Weber made a stop at Uncommon Ground on his national tour. I met Dan at the FARM conference a couple years ago. Patty Stevenson & Craig Siemsen CD release at Uncommon Ground-Clark. Loretta Sawyer Acoustic Arts/Promotions is sending their new CD Paint Me A Picture to radio. It has already received airplay in; IL, TX, IN, MI, OH, NJ,CA and NH.

Michael Johnathon came to the Chicago area for two special concerts. With David Hawkins at Uncommon Ground on Clark St. And then a concert for the wonderful folks of Lake County Folk Club with Chicago’s Sue Fink. Loretta Sawyer Agency books Michael’s concerts and Loretta Sawyer Acoustic Arts promotes his special events. Up Coming is The WoodSongs Front Porch Association (WFPA) Gathering set for Sept 25 & 26 at the historic Museum of Appalachia Norris, TN. The Gathering will be held on eleven beautiful acres at the cabin village of over 40 log structures and porches. Showcases, workshops, lectures, films, children’s stage, great food and a lot of music are planned.

Loretta Sawyer Acoustic Arts is honored to do radio promotion for a very special project by The Young Stracke All Stars, It Was A Dream is their debut CD. Since 2008, Chicago’s Young Stracke All-Stars have been building bridges between legendary figures like Carl Sandburg and Woody Guthrie and the youth of today. The band, made up of youth musicians ages 8 to 14, play music; celebrating the legacy of folk singer, education pioneer and co-founder of Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music Win Stracke.

When folk singer-songwriter Mark Dvorak began his career in music, he knew right away he was in it for the long haul. “For me, folk music has always been a part of our shared history,” said Dvorak, who is based in Chicago. “But it also gives us a language we can use to express ourselves, and to let others know what we are thinking and what we are feeling.”

“For years I’ve been trying to figure out a way to bring this music to more people. I’ve wanted to find the right situation where people can get into the songs, and also sustain myself as a touring musician,” he said.

Dvorak thinks he may have found a way with his latest project, the Community Concert Partnership, which debuts in the Bloomington-Normal area with a series of civic and public performances beginning July 8.

“It’s pretty simple really,” explains Dvorak, who is artist-in-residence at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. “This music has always thrived in small spaces. It has grown by being needed and used. It carries along with it the essence of our shared heritage and invites participation. Folk music is family music.”

On July 8 Dvorak will perform at 2:00 pm at Blair House, 1200 E. College Avenue, Normal, and give an evening patio concert at the Bloomington Public Library, 205 East Olive Street, Bloomington at 7:00 pm.

Dvorak returns to the area July 16 with a 2:00 pm performance at Evergreen Place Assisted Living, 801 Gregory Street, Normal, and a 7:00 pm performance at Heritage Health, 700 East Walnut, Bloomington.

On July 17 he will perform at Evergreen Village, 1701 Evergreen Blvd., Normal and give a public performance at 6:00 pm at The Coffeehouse Deli, 114 E. Beaufort, Normal.

“He’s the real deal,” said Bau Graves, Old Town School of Folk Music executive director. “Mark has made music his life and his livelihood. He’s been a top faculty member at the school for more than twenty-five years. His performances are elegant, rich and powerful.”

Dvorak has released sixteen albums to date and performed in thirty-eight states, and in Canada, Ireland and Finland. In 2013 he published his first book of essays and poetry, “Bowling for Christmas & Other Tales from the Road.” Also in 2013 he was honored by Folk Alliance International with the FARM Lantern Bearer Award for his contributions to folk and community music. In 2012, WFMT 98.7 fm fine arts radio named him “Chicago’s official troubadour.”

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be coming back to Bloomington-Normal,” said Dvorak. “I hope to bring the Community Concert Partnership to other towns in the Midwest, and eventually involve other artists and feature different kinds of programs,” he said.

For more information about the Community Concert Partnership, see markdvorak.com.

LUDINGTON, MI – Chicago’s “Official troubadour” Mark Dvorak will return to Ludington for two shows on Friday, July 3 and Saturday July 4.

On Friday, Dvorak will perform at the Shagway Art Barn, 5949 Shagway Road, Ludington. The concert is from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. General admission is $7, $5 for senior citizens.

“This is our inaugural concert season,” said Nancy Miller, Shagway Art Barn co-owner. “We’re thrilled to be able to add Mark to our schedule for a special holiday weekend concert.”

On Saturday, July 4, Dvorak will perform a special family concert at the Ludington State Park amphitheater, 8800 West M-116. The one-hour concert begins at 7:00 pm.

Musician, teacher, songwriter and author Mark Dvorak has served as a resource for arts, community organizations and venues across the country.

Dvorak has released sixteen albums to date and performed in thirty-eight states, and in Canada, Ireland and Finland. In 2013 he published his first book of essays and poetry, “Bowling for Christmas and Other Tales from the Road.” Also in 2013 he was honored by Folk Alliance International with the FARM Lantern Bearer Award for his contributions to folk and community music.

“For me, folk music has always been a part of our shared history,” said Dvorak. “But it also gives us a language we can use to express ourselves; to let others know what we are thinking and what we are feeling.”

Dvorak plans to release three new projects in the coming months. “I’ve been working on an album of just banjo music, and I want to release a collection of older songs, standards like “Someone to Watch Over Me,” by George Gershwin, and a song Fats Waller recorded in the 1930s, “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie.” I also want to release some spoken word material.